Latest news with #OMG2
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer Máté Herbai Joins Amit Rai For Dharma Starring Pankaj Tripathi
Máté Herbai collaborates with OMG 2 director Amit Rai for Dharma starring Pankaj Tripathi. The film explores morality and nature through visual poetry. Celebrated Hungarian cinematographer Máté Herbai, known globally for his hauntingly lyrical work on the Oscar-nominated and Berlinale Golden Bear-winning On Body and Soul, has collaborated with Indian filmmaker Amit Rai for Dharma, an emotionally charged drama that recently wrapped shooting in Bihar. Headlined by the ever-versatile Pankaj Tripathi, the film marks Rai's directorial return after the massive critical and commercial success of OMG 2 in 2023. An original tale rooted in environmental consciousness and moral inquiry, Dharma brings together an eclectic ensemble cast including Pawan Malhotra, Geeta Agrawal, Rajesh Kumar, and several actors from the Bhojpuri film industry. But what truly elevates the cinematic promise of Dharma is the visual craftsmanship of Máté Herbai, whose work is renowned for its sensitivity, poetic realism, and atmospheric depth. Speaking about how the collaboration came to be, Herbai shared, 'Arindra, the producer, had reached out to me with a few scripts before, but we never managed to match my schedule with the shoot. This time, there was a slight delay, but it finally worked out — and I was happy to say yes, especially because I really liked the script. And maybe most importantly, as a cinematographer, I found Amit (the director) super interesting just from our initial talks." That early instinct proved right. Herbai and Amit Rai struck a creative rapport quickly once filming began. 'Working with Amit was great — we clicked right away. He's full of creative ideas, and his directing style, the way he guides scenes and works with actors, is often actually fun. That's something I really appreciate — he doesn't take everything too seriously, which brings a good vibe to the scenes. Also, as a cinematographer, it's a huge plus when the director thinks in visuals — and Amit definitely does," he added. Having worked across a range of international productions in countries including the UK, Turkey, Japan, and the US, Herbai also praised the Indian crew for their professionalism and spirit. 'I had everything I'm used to, maybe even more. Here, the 1st AD takes on way more than usual, which really lightens the load for the DP. And our crew was fantastic — just a bunch of awesome people and top-notch pros. Couldn't have asked for better!" he said with enthusiasm. There was, however, one cultural curveball: 'Honestly, the only challenge was the spicy food — but even with that, the production really tried to help me out," Herbai quipped. As anticipation builds for Dharma, which promises to be as thought-provoking as it is visually rich, a release date is expected to be announced soon. With Amit Rai's storytelling prowess, Pankaj Tripathi's gravitas, and Máté Herbai's lens weaving visual poetry, Dharma is poised to be one of the most compelling Indian films of the year. First Published: July 25, 2025, 19:13 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Amit Rai Calls Bollywood ‘Cruel' as Shahid Kapoor's Shivaji Biopic Gets Shelved
Director Amit Rai, known for 'OMG 2' and 'Road to Sangam', has confirmed that his much-anticipated biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, starring Shahid Kapoor, has been officially shelved. Rai slammed the industry's 'cruel system,' explaining that even after proving his worth with a ₹180 crore hit, directors still face sudden dismissal due to casting, production, and management politics. He described having spent five years nurturing the story, only to see it unravel within minutes by critics. Determined, Rai announced he'll now produce his next film Dharma—featuring Pankaj Tripathi, with Akshay Kumar showing interest—in order to escape these bureaucratic bottlenecks. Read More
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘System is so cruel': OMG 2 director disappointed after his Shahid Kapoor film on Shivaji gets shelved, wonders if his ‘Rs 180 cr film was not enough' proof
Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava has been the biggest Hindi hit of the year so far and until Saiyaara came along, it seemed like Chhaava's throne might remain untouched. While that is yet to be determined, another film based on the life of another Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been shelved. Amit Rai, of OMG 2 fame, was going to direct the film and Shahid Kapoor was attached to the project. Amit blamed the 'cruel system' for his film getting shelved and said that despite his last film doing really well, his hard work of five years has been destroyed. In a chat with Mid-day, Amit said, 'The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a R180 crore film [OMG 2], it's not enough.' Amit did not explain why his project was shelved but expressed his disappointment with the systemic problems of the film industry. 'How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management? You live with a story for five years, and within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager, pointing out what is wrong and what is right in the film,' he said. Exclusive | Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 19 fees revealed, actor to charge between Rs 120-150 crores for three months In 2024, it was reported that Amit's film would be produced by Telugu film producer Dil Raju, and Shahid was already attached to the project. At the time, he was also going to star in Ashwatthama, which was later put on hold due to budget constraints. A post shared by Riteish Deshmukh (@riteishd) Meanwhile, Riteish Deshmukh has already announced his film, Raja Shivaji, based on the life of Shivaji. Riteish is directing the film and will also play the lead role here. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shahid Kapoor's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj film shelved, director says: 'They say yes only once you enter their circle'
Filmmaker Amit Rai, known for directing Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi's OMG 2, has confirmed that his historical drama on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, starring Shahid Kapoor, has been shelved. In an interview with Mid-Day, the filmmaker attributed the decision to the 'cruel system' in the industry. Amit Rai confirms film with Shahid Kapoor on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj shelved. In March 2024, Pinkvilla reported that producer Dil Raju is partnering with Wakaoo Films for a historical drama based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Shahid as the lead hero and Amit as director. Amit Rai expresses frustration with industry Amit confirmed the film getting shelved and expressed his frustration with the industry's workings and said, 'The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a ₹180 crore film (OMG 2), it's not enough. How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management? You live with a story for five years, and within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager pointing out what is wrong and what is right with the film.' The filmmaker further revealed that this experience made him realise that turning producer is the only way forward. Speaking about his next film, Dharma, he said he is relying solely on himself. While his OMG 2 actor, Pankaj Tripathi, is part of the cast, the filmmaker also shared that Akshay Kumar had shown interest in the project. Amit Rai on the challenges of casting a star Amit also opened up about the challenges of casting in the industry and said, 'An actor will only do what's working at the box office. Very few actors were honest with me. Sometimes, they weren't interested in being part of a film that speaks the truth about society and instead wanted to do a love story. But when I took a love story to them, they said, 'This is an expensive film, this is a period love story.' So, the criterion kept changing. [The truth is that] they will say yes to you only once you enter their circle.' Amit garnered attention with his directorial debut Road to Sangam in 2009, a critically acclaimed film that explored communal harmony through a unique premise involving Mahatma Gandhi. He rose to mainstream prominence with OMG 2 in 2023, the spiritual sequel to OMG: Oh My God!, starring Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi. The film tackled sensitive issues like sex education in a conservative society and was a commercial success, earning ₹ 221.75 crore. Shahid's upcoming project Meanwhile, Shahid Kapoor is busy shooting for his upcoming movie, Arjun Ustara. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film also stars Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, and Randeep Hooda in key roles, with Vikrant Massey in a special appearance. The film is slated for a December release this year.
Pink Villa
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Shahid Kapoor-led Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic shelved, director Amit Rai slams 'cruel system'
Shahid Kapoor is one of the most talented actors in the Hindi film industry. He was last seen in Rosshan Andrrews' directorial, Deva, earlier this year. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic, which was the actor's highly anticipated project, has been shelved. Director Amit Rai has confirmed that it is off the table while slamming the cruel system in the fraternity. Amit Rai reacts after his Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic gets shelved In a recent interview with Mid-Day, director Amit Rai spoke about how he feels helpless after the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic has been shelved. While the OMG 2 director didn't specifically mention the reason, he blamed the "cruel system". He expressed that as a director, he faced challenges while working under the systems of "casting, production, stars, and management". Amit Rai worked on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic for 5 years Director Amit Rai revealed that he had been working on the script of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic for five years. Talking about his now-shelved ambitious project, Rai added, "Within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager, pointing out what is wrong and what is right in the film." Shahid Kapoor was in talks with director Amit Rai for the biopic In 2024, Pinkvilla exclusively reported that Shahid Kapoor was roped in to headline the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic. According to a source close to the development, director Amit Rai and producer Ashwin Varde had zeroed in on Shahid as he was the "best fit" for the lead role. "Shahid was equally enthusiastic about the idea and eagerly came on board," the source added. On the work front, Shahid Kapoor will next be seen in Vishal Bharadwaj's directorial venture, Arjun Ustara, co-starring Triptii Dimri. Shahid and Vishal are reuniting after a long time. Arjun Ustra marks their fourth collaboration. They have previously collaborated on films such as Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014), and Rangoon (2017). Shahid Kapoor made his Bollywood debut with Ken Ghosh's Ishq Vishk in 2003 alongside Amrita Rao. Shahid is best known for movies like Udta Punjab, Jab We Met, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and many more.
